Building a nightlife - Name is part of bar's appeal

Business Q&A

Mark Santiago mixes drinks at Fat Boss’s Pub in downtown San Angelo. The bar opened in one of the newly renovated Three Sisters buildings on Chadbourne Street.

When John Castillo Jr. and his sister, Cyndi Castillo, bought the property at 114 S. Chadbourne St., it was nothing more than a ceiling and walls.

After four months of hard-core renovations, Fat Boss's Pub stood before them as a blend of classic design elements and cutting-edge technology. Five widescreen plasma televisions adorn the walls of the historic building, and a new draft beer system regulates the amount of carbon dioxide in the beer.

"A lot of people tell us it has a big-city feel," John Castillo Jr. said of the bar.

Castillo, 34, also owns GA Auto Glass of San Angelo. He said making the investment downtown was a risk, but so far he has been pleasantly surprised by the number of people visiting the pub.

Aside from Blaine's Pub around the corner from Fat Boss's Pub, downtown San Angelo doesn't have much of a nightlife. Castillo said he would like to see that change.

"Before, when Fuentes would close, it was a ghost town down here," Castillo said. "We took a big risk, but you've got to take a chance. Until other people take a chance downtown, it's not going to happen."

Castillo said he got the idea to open a bar when some of his relatives from Houston and Dallas visited over the holidays, and he didn't know where to take them. But he said he wouldn't have felt comfortable going into the bar business without the help of the pub's manager, Reyes Menchaca, who has about 10 years of experience working in a bar.

Standard-Times: Is there a particular demographic your bar is targeting?

Castillo: We're not trying to appeal to any one group. You can come in casually or nicely dressed.

What's the story behind the name?

Castillo: One of my employees (at GA Auto Glass) started calling me fat boss. It caught on, even though I'm trying to lose weight. I think it's something that a lot of people can relate to.

Do you specialize in any drinks?

Menchaca: We've been told we make good martinis, and we've gotten compliments on the cosmos.

We have some premium scotches and tequilas that you can't find anywhere else in town.

What made you choose this location?

Castillo: I was just driving by, and I saw the building and thought it would be perfect for what I was trying to do.

How would you describe the décor?

Menchaca: It's a mixture of everything.

We have posters of up-and-coming and classic (musicians). It's blending traditional and modern. He went all out.

My favorite time in here is four in the afternoon.

That's when I wish people would come in and enjoy the downtown view.

It's calming to be down here.

Has anything about the business surprised you so far?

Castillo: The thing that's surprised me the most is how many people actually take shots. The younger generation has surprised me with that.